The long-awaited Maserati Grecale lands in Australia, taking the fight up to sports-luxury mid-size SUV rivals like the Porsche Macan
- How much does the Maserati Grecale cost?
- What equipment comes with the Maserati Grecale?
- How safe is the Maserati Grecale?
- What technology does the Maserati Grecale feature?
- What powers the Maserati Grecale?
- How fuel efficient is the Maserati Grecale?
- What is the Maserati Grecale like to drive?
- What is the Maserati Grecale like inside?
- Should I buy a Maserati Grecale?
The Maserati Grecale mid-size SUV is arguably the most important vehicle to be launched by the Italian sports-luxury car-maker in the current portfolio. Tasked with carrying the lion’s share of sales for the brand in Australia and abroad, the Grecale is also responsible for bringing new buyers to Maserati while also doubling as a new entry point. The Grecale uses an Alfa Romeo platform as its base, and a mix of four-cylinder and V6 engine choices. In our first Australian drive, we find the Maserati Grecale Modena to be beautifully presented, but the high price and famous badge are at odds with the standard specification and the driving experience.
How much does the Maserati Grecale cost?
Pricing for the new 2023 Maserati Grecale opens at $109,500 plus on-road costs in Australia.
That’s for the entry Maserati Grecale GT, with the mid-range Modena tested here at $128,000 plus ORCs and the flagship Trofeo opening at $165,000 plus ORCs.
The models are distinguished by power outputs – and in the case of the Trofeo, a new twin-turbo V6 borrowed from the MC20 supercar – together with equipment levels which we’ll detail in the sections below.
Prices have also risen for the larger Maserati Levante with the introduction of the Grecale, the latest increases now seeing the Levante open at $147,600 plus ORCs. That comes after a $2600 hike in March and an earlier $20K uptick brought with MY23 last year.
In any case, the Maserati Grecale is more expensive at entry level than a variety of key rivals, with the Porsche Macan priced from $95,300 plus ORCs and the Jaguar F-PACE starting from $83,700 plus ORCs.
It also sits above the German triumvirate of the Audi Q5 (from $67,900), BMW X3 (from $83,100) and Mercedes-Benz GLC (from $104,900).
What equipment comes with the Maserati Grecale?
At the entry level, standard equipment highlights on the 2023 Maserati Grecale GT include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights/tail-lights, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry/start and a 14-speaker stereo.
Our mid-range Modena adds larger 20-inch Etere gloss black alloy wheels, 14-way adjustable sports front seats with heating and driver position memory function, full premium leather upholstery with Campidoglio stitch, three-zone climate control with a separate screen interface for rear seat passengers, and a powered tailgate.
Naturally for an Italian luxury car, options are de rigueur. A $3290 Tech Assistance Pack on our test car adds niceties including a head-up display and wireless phone charging, although we might ask why on earth we should be paying extra for these items at this $128K-plus price point.
The Maserati Grecale is backed by a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty in Australia – less generous than most rivals – while servicing will set owners back $2500 over three years/45,000km according to the manufacturer (based on 12-month/15,000km intervals).
How safe is the Maserati Grecale?
The 2023 Maserati Grecale is yet to be formally tested by either Euro NCAP or its Australian partner ANCAP.
However, it does boast decent safety credentials on paper, with advanced driver assist systems including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian recognition, active lane management, rear cross path alert and drowsy driver detection.
Other inclusions such as a surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring sweeten the deal, ditto full airbag coverage.
That said, those after speed sign recognition and an adaptive speed limiter will need to part with an additional $7050 for the optional ADAS Level 2 pack.
Again, it’s an unexpected impost on such a premium car.
What technology does the Maserati Grecale feature?
Infotainment in the 2023 Maserati Grecale includes a 12.3-inch centre touch-screen display offering a 14-speaker Sonus Faber Premium Sound system and smartphone mirroring.
Wireless phone charging is listed as optional.
Underneath the centre screen is a separate 8.8-inch display housing dedicated, always-on climate control functions. Additionally, Maserati has packaged its P-R-N-D gear selectors into the centre fascia, liberating more storage space in the traditional centre console location.
The centre touch-screen is matched by a separate 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
For what it’s worth, we found the technology offered a significant step-change in functionality and presentation from previous Maserati models.
Everything is clean and legible, with minimal digging through sub-menus for basic commands and quick reactions to user inputs.
What powers the Maserati Grecale?
GT and Modena versions of the 2023 Maserati Grecale employ the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine – both with 450Nm of torque, but where the GT develops 221kW, the Modena churns out 242kW of power.
Both are supported by a mild-hybrid system and include all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. The Modena also boasts a limited-slip rear differential.
The mild-hybrid system, not surprisingly, is very minimalist by nature, employing an electric motor to drive a second compressor to overcome turbo lag.
Meanwhile, the top-spec Grecale Trofeo ups the ante considerably with the installation of a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 pumping out 390kW and 620Nm.
All variants of the Grecale sit on an extended version of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio’s architecture, known internally as the Giorgio platform.
How fuel efficient is the Maserati Grecale?
The 2023 Maserati Grecale consumes a claimed 8.1L/100km on Europe’s WLTP combined cycle, with no local ADR figures available at the time of testing.
Speaking of testing, we managed to achieve 10.5L/100km in a mix of conditions during our 500km first drive.
What is the Maserati Grecale like to drive?
It should come as little surprise to hear the 2023 Maserati Grecale drives in a completely different manner to Maseratis of old – and that’s just fine.
The question is whether it substantiates the huge pricing premium over like-minded SUVs, and as an extension of that, whether it feels special enough to wear the famed Trident badge.
On first acquaintance, we’re yet to be convinced.
Sure, the Grecale covers the basics nicely: low-slung driver’s seat positioning, beautifully appointed cabin, striking road presence and, to some extent, well-modulated controls which enable easy around-town passage while also cultivating important feeling and feedback.
Furthermore, the Grecale feels arguably smaller than it really is on-road – always a positive handling reflection, especially for an SUV – as well as being surefooted and planted through faster changes in direction.
However, high praise for the Grecale’s on-road wares is immediately offset by a lacklustre engine character and so-so performance, plus what we’d deem as an unresolved ride.
Distribution of power feels quite elastic initially. You can pull away from a standstill quite seamlessly and build speed gently, but as soon as you ask more from the drivetrain it lacks the linearity and wherewithal its 450Nm torque output might have you believe.
The engine eventually finds its feet in the mid-range, with pleasing transitions to the top end of the dial and a brisker turn of speed (0-100km/h officially takes 5.3sec).
However, all of it is laid against fairly flat and uninspiring four-cylinder vocals.
There are no complaints with the eight-speed automatic, though. It feels smooth and well-timed in its shifts, with flexibility around efficiency or performance when it comes to mapping modes – the former underlined by almost idle-speed highway cruising and the latter punctuated by exhaust belches on faster up-changes.
But, all told, the engine and transmission would feel more at home in a circa-$50,000 German hot hatch, not a $130,000 Italian ‘performance’ SUV.
Elsewhere, the Grecale feels sporty and competent with its handling, with fairly light steering and decent – though not benchmark – body control.
It lacks the outright lateral grip and deftness of touch of the brilliant Porsche Macan, while also falling short of the German’s vault-like on-road composure.
The more aggressive Grecale Trofeo ought to settle the score there, though at $165,000 (plus on-road costs) it will need to be good to justify the lofty price.
The Grecale’s ride quality is another bone of contention.
It niggles and occasionally thuds over harsher obstacles in the road, and takes longer to recover from drawn-out undulations than it ought to.
It also struggles to suppress road noise and wind noise to the same level of some contemporaries.
All in all, we’d say the Grecale is relatively sensible and well-rounded for a mid-size luxury SUV.
But given the price and the badge on its nose, it probably leaves itself a little short-changed on charisma and refinement.
What is the Maserati Grecale like inside?
The 2023 Maserati Grecale earns its keep where interior presentation, layout and materials are concerned.
Furnished in quality leather at every conceivable corner, the Grecale also represents a step-change in technology integration for the Modena manufacturer.
We are particularly enamoured at the presentation of the dashboard centre fascia and the general cockpit area.
Stepping inside blends traditional luxury wares (stitched leather dashboard, ample seat bolstering and low-slung driver’s position) with more modern cues including a digital round clock face atop the dashboard and the duo of screens underneath it.
The thinking doesn’t quite work for the Maser’s electronic door release buttons. Essentially installed on the door card in lieu of door handles, the buttons look cool and work well enough, however Maserati has given in to the legal requirement of a mechanical release switch underneath – which kind of undermines the whole idea.
Elsewhere, all of the tech is legible, easy to navigate and presented in a manner that minimises distraction on-road, with no need to dig through needless screen sub-menus.
Maserati’s decision to locate the gear selection controls in the dashboard itself liberates room for odds-and-ends storage in the console area, a feature complemented by large door pockets and an assortment of open cubbies.
Another noteworthy feature is the abundance of space relative to the Grecale’s 4.85-metre length. Rear seat occupants are treated to moderate kneeroom, headroom and shoulder-room to accommodate a couple of adults or little ones alike on longer journeys.
There are also rear air vents with a separate control panel (in the Modena and up) as well as separate charging outlets.
The Grecale features a fairly honest and open glasshouse to see out of from the back seat, despite its raked roofline, with ISOFIX attachment points for child restraints on the outboard positions.
The 530-litre boot area (with the split-folding rear seat upright) offers long but relatively narrow proportions big enough for a designer pram or a couple of full-size suitcases.
It has a separate 12-volt charging outlet and an electric tailgate for convenience, but gets an inflation kit in place of a spare wheel.
Should I buy a Maserati Grecale?
The 2023 Maserati Grecale sets a promising new tone for the Italian brand.
Tech-laden, smartly finished and offering an element of exoticness for its class, the Grecale also ladles on family-friendly vibes with its useable rear seat space and boot area (sans rear tyre).
At this price, however, there are arguably better-executed options like the Porsche Macan and Jaguar F-PACE – both of which undercut the Maser on price and offer more substance where performance, ride and handling are concerned.
2023 Maserati Grecale Modena at a glance:
Price: $128,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 243kW/450Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 198g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested
Keyword: Maserati Grecale 2023 Review